Home · 2019 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid · Complaints

What 869 owners told NHTSA about the 2019 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (869)Crash / fire / injury (30)Fuel system (267)Engine (203)Electrical system (100)Body & structure (89)Transmission & drivetrain (80)Airbags (45)Brakes (35)Speed control (30)Steering (30)Visibility & wipers (21)

Newest first · 869 complaints · page 31 of 35

Dec 23, 2019Fuel system

YOU CAN'T FILL IT UP ALL THE WAY IT SHUTS OFF AND IS NOT FULL BY SEVERAL GALLONS. ONE TIME WE TRIED PUTTING THE FUEL IN VERY SLOWLY AND IT OVERFILLED THE TANK AND SPILLED OUT! IT HAS BEEN IMPOSSIBLE TO FILL UP SINCE PURCHASE

NHTSA ODI 11290977

Dec 22, 2019SteeringSpeed control

VEHICLE ACCELERATED SUDDENLY WHEN I WAS TRYING TO GET INTO A PARKING SPOT ON MY LEFT SIDE. SAVED FROM CRASHING INTO THE ADJACENT CAR WHEN I QUICKLY PUSHED THE BRAKES, VERY SCARY. IT WAS RAINING AT THE TIME, AND THE PARKING SPOT I WAS AIMING FOR IS AT AN INCLINE.

NHTSA ODI 11290675

Dec 22, 2019Fuel system

THE FUEL GAUGE DOESN'T GO BEYOND 3/4 FULL, INDICATES THAT THE GAS TANK IS NOT FULL. YET, ALL THE GAS PUMPS WE USED IN HE PAST 7 MONTHS CLICK OFF -- INDICATING THAT THE GAS TANK IS INDEED FULL. TRYING TO TOP THE GAS TANK (TO GET THE FUEL GAUGE TO SHOW FULL) CREATES TOXIC AND POLLUTING GAS SPILLS THAT HARM THE PEOPLE NEARBY AND THE ENVIRONMENT. I FILED A CASE NUMBER WITH MY DEALER AND TOYOTA ON 10/18/2019. TOYOTA KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM, NO SOLUTION FORTHCOMING AS OF NOW 12/22/2019.

NHTSA ODI 11290676

Dec 20, 2019

PCS DOES NOT WORK. DEALER TESTED IT WITH AN INSTRUMENT THAT CLAIMS IT IS OK. I RECHECKED IT 4 TIMES.IT IS DYSFUNCTIONAL. SINCE IT IS A BLIND SYSTEM I SUSPECT OTHERS MAY HAVE NON OPERATIONAL SYSTEMS WITHOUT REALIZING IT. OWNER MANUAL INSTRUCTS USERS NOT TO TRY TESTING'WHICH IS ACTUALLY VERY SIMPLE AT REASONABLY SLOW SPEED OF ABOUT 25 MPH. I EXPERIENCED NO SOUND OR VISUAL WARNINGS AND NO BRAKING DURING SEVERAL TRIALS.

NHTSA ODI 11290434

Dec 19, 2019Fuel system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 TOYOTA RAV4. ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO FILL THE VEHICLE WITH FUEL TO THE ADVERTISED CAPACITY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO IRA TOYOTA OF DANVERS (99 ANDOVER ST, DANVERS, MA 01923, (978) 739-8300) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE UNTIL HE BROUGHT IT IN FOR SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23.

NHTSA ODI 11290103

Dec 15, 2019Electrical systemFuel system

THE FUEL TANK IS FAULTY AND DOES NOT HOLD 14.5 GALLONS OF GAS AS LISTED IN THE OWNERS MANUAL. THE GAS GAUGE IS FAULTY AND IS NOT ACCURATE. OTHERWISE TOYOTA IS COMMITTING FRAUD BY MAKING SUCH CLAIMS WHICH MY RAV4 DOES NOT DELIVER. THIS HAS BEEN GETTING WORSE SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR IN JULY 2019. THE TANK CAN ONLY BE FILLED WITH 10 GALLONS OF GAS AFTER THE FUEL GAUGE IS ON EMPTY AND THE 'DISTANCE TO EMPTY' IS ZERO WITH REFUEL NOW WARNING. THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH A FAULTY GAS GAUGE WHICH IS NOT ACCURATE. EVEN AFTER FILLING WITH 10 GALLONS, THE FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT REGISTER FULL AND SHOWS ONLY 7/8 TANK FILLED. 14.5 GALLONS X 35.7 MPG SHOULD SHOW 517 MILES TO EMPTY, BUT MILEAGE COMPUTER ONLY SHOWS 392 MILE RANGE. 392 MILE RANGE DIVIDED BY 35.7 MPG IS 10.9 GALLONS IN THE TANK. IF THIS CAR HAS A 14.5 GALLON TANK IT IS FAULTY. I HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH GAS IS IN THE RAV4 AND RANGE. THIS WILL PREVENTS ME FROM TAKING LONG CROSS COUNTRY TRIPS IN RURAL AREAS UNLESS I HAVE TO GAS UP AT SMALL RURAL GAS STATIONS AND NOT ALLOW ME THE RANGE TO KEEP DRIVING DURING LONG TRIPS. I AM TOLD NOT TO LET THE GAS TANK RUN DRY SINCE THAT COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING OF THE FUEL PUMP WHICH COULD START A FIRE IF HOT ENOUGH. I WANT TOYOTA TO FIX MY GAS TANK AND GAS GAUGE SO THAT IT WILL HOLD 14.5 GALLONS OF GAS AND ALLOW ME A DRIVING RANGE OF OVER 500 MILES AS ADVERTISED. I WANT A SAFE CAR THAT GIVES ME THE MILEAGE AND CLAIMED RANGE WHICH ARE WHY I BOUGHT THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11289181

Dec 13, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

I LEASED A NEW 2019 TOYOTA RAV4 XLE IN APRIL AND SINCE THAT DAY HAVE HAD ISSUES. IF YOU ARE STOPPING AND THEN GO TO PUSH THE GAS AGAIN, YOU WILL LURCH FORWARD. ALSO IF YOU EASE OFF THE BREAK, IT WILL ROCK BACK AND FORTH. I DESCRIBE IT LIKE TRYING TO DRIVE A STICK SHIFT WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO USE THE CLUTCH. ALSO IF YOU STOP AND GO TO TURN INTO TRAFFIC OR LEFT ACROSS AN INTERSECTION, IT WILL DELAY AND NOT GO FAST ENOUGH AND THEN YOU PUSH HARDER AND IT ROCKETS FORWARD. I HAVE EXPERIENCED 3 NEAR ACCIDENT SITUATIONS DUE TO THIS DELAY. I CALLED MY DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE ISSUE AND THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I SPOKE TO THE CUSTOMER RELATIONS MANAGER AND HE SAID THE CAR NEEDS TO LEARN MY DRIVING HABITS, IT COULD TAKE UP TO 10K MILES, AND THAT IT'S NORMAL. I TOLD HIM I WASN'T HAPPY AND WANTED OUT OF THE VEHICLE AS IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE, UNCOMFORTABLE, AND KIND OF SCARY. HE TOLD ME I SIGNED A CONTRACT AND THERE WASN'T ANYTHING THEY COULD DO. I CALLED AND INFORMED TOYOTA CORPORATE. I BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR A FULL DIAGNOSIS IN JUNE. THEY SAID EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL. I BROUGHT IT IN AGAIN IN OCTOBER. THEY DID THE SOFTWARE UPDATE. THE CAR DROVE BETTER FOR ABOUT 3-4 WEEKS AND STARTED UP AGAIN. I CALLED AND SCHEDULED TO BRING IT IN NOVEMBER. THEY SAID THE SOFTWARE UPDATE HADN'T TAKEN FULLY AND NEEDED TO BE RE-RUN. I LEFT AND STILL HAD THE ISSUE. I CALLED TOYOTA CORPORATE AGAIN AND STARTED THE PROCESS FOR LEMON LAW AND THE HAD MY CAR FOR 3 DAYS. THEY COULD NOT GET THE CAR TO RE-CREATE THE ISSUES AND SO THEREFORE THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO AND THEY WILL NOT BE SENDING OUT THE CORPORATE MASTER TECHNICIAN. THEY SAID THE 1-2 SECOND DELAYS ARE NORMAL FOR THE COMPUTER WHILE IT TRIES TO DETERMINE IF IT SHOULD SHIFT UP OR DOWN.

NHTSA ODI 11288863

Dec 12, 2019Fuel system

I BOUGHT MY BOUGHT A 2019 TOYOTA RAV4 HYBRID A COUPLE MONTHS AGO. I LIKE IT FOR THE MOST PART, BUT ONE OF THE PRIMARY REASONS I BOUGHT IT WAS FOR THE ADVERTISED ~550 MILE RANGE. HOWEVER, EVERY TIME I'VE PUT IN A FULL TANK, THE 'MILE RANGE' AT THE FRONT DASH SHOWS AROUND 430 MILES. I GOT THE TANK REPLACED BY ATLANTIC TOYOTA IN WEST ISLIP BUT MY TANK IS ONLY GETTING 9 GALLONS OF FUEL WHEN THE TANK IS 14.5 GALLONS. 2019 TOYOTA RAV4 HYBRID XLE AWD

NHTSA ODI 11288770

Dec 10, 2019Fuel system

FUEL TANK ON MY 2019 RAV4 HYBRID XSE WILL NOT FILL COMPLETELY. TYPICALLY SHUTS OFF AT 9-10 GALLONS AND I CANNOT GET MUCH MORE IN NO MATTER HOW LOW THE FUEL INDICATOR OR HOW OFTEN I REMOVE, REPLACE AND REACTIVATE THE FILLER NOZZLE. I HAVE NOTIFIED TOYOTA AND RECEIVED A CASE NUMBER. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS VIEWABLE ON LINE AND TOYOTA IS TAKING A LONG TIME TO FIND A FIX. MEANTIME, THE EPA-ADVERTISED 580 MILES OF RANGE IS A BIG JOKE.

NHTSA ODI 11288209

Dec 8, 2019Visibility & wipers

I JUST BOUGHT A NEW 2019 RAV4. WHILE DRIVING, I NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER-SIDE SIDE MIRROR (ON THE LEFT SIDE) APPEARS TO BE DISTORTING OR STRANGELY MAGNIFYING THE OBJECTS. I AM NOT SURE IF THIS IS A "FEATURE", BUT IT TAKES SOME TIME FOR MY EYES TO ADJUST FROM LOOKING AT THE ROAD IN FRONT TO THE SIDE MIRROR BECAUSE THE FOCUS SEEMS TO BE OFF. IN FACT, AFTER A HALF HOUR OF DRIVING MY WIFE HAD A HEADACHE FROM GLANCING AT THE MIRROR. WE HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED ANYTHING LIKE THIS IN ANY OTHER CAR. ADDITIONALLY, WHILE DRIVING, THE MIRROR TENDS TO VIBRATE A LOT, MAKING IT EVEN MORE DIFFICULT TO LOOK INTO COMBINED WITH THE DISTORTED IMAGE.

NHTSA ODI 11287796

Dec 4, 2019Fuel system

THE FUEL TANK WILL NOT FILL UP COMPLETELY. WHEN THE FUEL GAUGE IS READING EMPTY THE FUEL TANK WILL ONLY ACCEPT 8-9 GALLONS OF FUEL. THE FUEL TANK IS 14.5 GALLONS. TO TRY AND FILL THE TANK I HAVE TO REPEATEDLY TRY TO TOP IT OFF. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME I TRY TO REFUEL.

NHTSA ODI 11286802

Dec 4, 2019Fuel system

THE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR IS LIKELY MALFUNCTIONING. IF IT IS NOT THE SENSOR, THE FACTORY INSTALLED A SMALLER THAN ADVERTISED FUEL TANK. THIS VEHICLE IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE A 14.5 GALLON (US) FUEL TANK. UNFORTUNATELY, THE FUEL GAUGE WILL READ EMPTY AFTER 9.5-10.5 GALLONS OF FUEL IS CONSUMED. THEREBY, LEAVING 4-5 GALLONS OF FUEL UNACCOUNTED FOR AND REDUCING THE SAFE DRIVE-ABLE RANGE BY 150 - 200 MILES. MOREOVER, WHEN TOPPED UP THE FUEL GAUGE WILL SOMETIMES READ SLIGHTLY LESS THAN FULL OR THE FIRST HALF OF THE FUEL GAUGE WILL BE DEPLETED MORE QUICKLY THAN THE LATTER HALF. THIS LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THE ISSUE LIES WITH THE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR ITSELF.

NHTSA ODI 11286954

Nov 26, 2019AirbagsSpeed controlBrakesCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE, DROVE OVER A CURB AND SIDEWALK, AND CRASHED INTO A STOREFRONT. POLICE REPORT NUMBER: [XXX] WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC. TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD SEND A FIELD MECHANIC TO DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,100. *PM ('PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).')*JB

NHTSA ODI 11282427

Nov 26, 2019Fuel system

FUEL TANK DOES NOT FILL UP TO ADVERTISED CAPACITY. CONSISTENTLY LESS THAN FULL WHEN GAS PUMP CLICKS OFF. MULTIPLE PUMPS AND GAS STATIONS HAVE BEEN USED.

NHTSA ODI 11282482

Nov 26, 2019Fuel system

2019 TOYOTA RAV4 HYBRID, UNABLE TO FILL UP WITH FUEL. WITH FUEL LIGHT ON AND 30 MILES OF RANGE VEHICLE ONLY ALLOWS 8.8 GALLONS OUT OF A 14.5 GALLON TANK. CAUSING LOSS OF ABOUT 200 MILES OF RANGE. FUEL GAUGE STAYS SLIGHTLY BELOW F EVEN AFTER TRYING TO TOP OFF. UNSAFE AS WE NEVER KNOW HOW MUCH FUEL WE HAVE AND COULD END UP STRANDED OR OVERFILLING.

NHTSA ODI 11282569

Nov 25, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

A VERY SIGNIFICANT "LURCHING" ALMOST"STALLING" IS VERY APPARENT AS THE COMPLAINTS INDICATE. IN ADDITION, THE TRANSMISSION STARTS IN 4TH GEAR...NOT 1ST GEAR FROM A DEAD STOP. I WOULD CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY ISSUE. HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FROM DAY 1 OF CAR PURCHASE. VEHICLE NOW HAS 22,000 MILES ON IT

NHTSA ODI 11282328

Nov 25, 2019Fuel system

NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES I FILL UP THE TANK WITH GAS, I CAN NEVER REACH ANYTHING OVER 9 GALLONS, AND THIS CAR REPORTEDLY HAS A 14 5 GALLON TANK. THE DEALERSHIP ALREADY REPLACED MY ORIGINAL GAS TANK, BEFORE THAT MY CAR WOULD NEVER GET TO THE F ON THE FUEL GAUGE. NOW IT TELLS ME I HAVE LOW FUEL AND NEED TO FILL UP, BUT ONLY LETS ME PUT ON 9.5 GALLONS MAX, EVEN WHEN IT TELLS ME I HAVE ZERO MILES LEFT BEFORE EMPTY. SINCE THE FUEL ECONOMY AND SIZE OF THIS HYBRID GAS TANK ARE WHAT LEAD ME TO THE CAR IN THE FIRST PLACE, I'M INCREDIBLY DISAPPOINTED AND HAVE GOTTEN NOWHERE WITH TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE. I BOUGHT THE CAR IN APRIL AND STILL, MORE THAN 6 MONTHS LATER, THEY DON'T HAVE A FIX. THIS IS SUPER UPSETTING AND SINCE THIS IS MY FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH TOYOTA, I DON'T PLAN ON EVER BUYING ANOTHER. ANOTHER MONTH AND I'M GOING TO FILE UNDER THE LEMON LAW BECAUSE THIS CAR DEFINITELY IS NOT WHAT IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE AND NO ONE AT THE COMPANY SEEMS TO CARE. I'VE TAKEN IT IN TO MULTIPLE DEALERSHIPS, MULTIPLE TIMES AND THEY TELL ME THERE IS NO FIX YET. THEY DON'T THINK THE ISSUE IS THE FUEL TANK, BUT THE SYSTEM THAT TELLS YOU HOW MUCH FUEL YOU HAVE LEFT IN THE CAR, THE SAME SYSTEM THAT TELLS YOU YOUR AVERAGE MPG. IT'S TELLING YOU THAT YOUR TANK IS EMPTY TOO SOON, SO WHEN YOU FILL UP, YOU DON'T REALLY NEED TO. WHILE LOGGING MY TRIP MILEAGE, I'M ONLY EVER ABLE TO GET AT MOST 350 MILES PER TANK, INSTEAD OF THE PROMISED OVER 500 MILES PER TANK WITH AN LOW-BALLED AVERAGE MPG OF 37.

NHTSA ODI 11282371

Nov 24, 2019Fuel system

MY HYBRID BATTERY HAS YET TO FULLY CHARGE. I HAVE ONLY RECIEVED DOUBLE TALK FROM 3 DIFFERENT SERVICE CARE SPECIALIST STATING "THE HYBRID BATTERY IS NEVER GOING TO FULLY CHARGE. AND IF IT DOES, IT WILL NOT LAST AS LONG AS THE 8 YEAR WARRANTY." I THEN ASK IF OTHERS {OWNERS OF THE TOYOTA RAV4 HYBRID BATTERY } HAVE THE SAME HYBRID BATTERY ISSUES I HAVE. THE SERVICE CARE SPECIALIST ALL REPLIED"ALL HYBRID BATTERIES HAVE FULLY CHARGED"

NHTSA ODI 11282036

Nov 22, 2019Fuel system

I PURCHASED A 2019 RAV 4 HYBRID A FEW MONTHS AGO. EACH TIME I HAVE FILLED THE FUEL TANK, I HAVE FILLED IT UNTIL THE FUEL NOZZLE CLICKS OFF, BUT THE TANK NEVER REGISTERS MORE THAN 3/4+ FULL. I HAVE TRIED FILLING THE TANK AT SEVERAL DIFFERENT GASOLINE STATIONS. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPT. A FEW WEEKS AGO, AND THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG, AND THEY WERE ABLE TO FILL THE TANK TO FULL. HOWEVER, I SUSPECT THAT MAY HAVE BEEN ACCOMPLISHED BY NOT INSERTING THE NOZZLE COMPLETELY INTO THE FUEL TANK, BECAUSE I SPOKE WITH THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AGAIN TODAY ABOUT THE CONTINUING PROBLEM, AND THAT'S WHAT THEY TOLD ME TO DO. THEY ALSO OFFERED TO ACCOMPANY ME TO A GAS STATION, IMPLYING THAT AFTER DECADES OF DRIVING, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO FILL A GAS TANK. FORTUNATELY I LOGGED ONTO THE NHTSA WEBSITE, AND I SEE THAT MANY OTHERS HAVE ENCOUNTERED THE SAME PROBLEM. SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE 2019 RAV 4 HYBRID FUELING SYSTEM, AND THE FIX CAN'T BE TO NOT FULLY INSERT THE NOZZLE INTO THE TANK, OR CONTINUE FILLING THE TANK AFTER THE NOZZLE CLICKS OFF. DOING SO CIRCUMVENTS BUILT IN SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES, AND IS DANGEROUS. IT ALSO NEGATIVELY IMPACTS THE DRIVING RANGE THAT WE HAVE ON A TANK OF GAS.

NHTSA ODI 11281827

Nov 16, 2019Fuel system

FUEL TANK WON'T FILL ALL THE WAY. WHEN GAS PUMP CUTS OFF, TANK IS ONLY PARTIALLY FILLED. RANGE AVAILABLE IS FAR SHORT OF ADVERTISED RANGE. CAN HOLD PUMP LEVER ON, BUT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE NO MATTER WHAT STATE YOU'RE IN. TOYOTA DEALERSHIP GIVES RUNAROUND WITHOUT REALLY SEEMING INTERESTED IN FIXING THE PROBLEM. THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM MANY OTHER "FUEL" ENTRIES ARE CITING. IT'S BEEN LIKE THIS SINCE PURCHASE IN APRIL. I USED APRIL AS DATE HAPPENED. (BELOW). IT HAS BEEN 7 MONTHS AND TOYOTA IS STILL IGNORING THE PROBLEM. HAVE COMPLAINED TO DEALER AT LEAST TWICE.

NHTSA ODI 11280535

Nov 15, 2019Fuel system

GAS TANK WILL NOT FILL. MAX IS BETWEEN HALF AND THREE-QUARTER FILL. CALLED TOYOTA AND OPENED AN INCIDENT REPORT. TOYOTA ADVISED THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM BUT NO CURRENT FIX. I DRIVE EXTENSIVELY AND PURCHASED A HYBRID FOR THIS REASON. I CANNOT USE THE CAR AS DESCRIBED. I WAS TOLD TO BRING IT TO A LOCAL DELEARSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP ACTED UNAWARE OF THE PROBLEM. DUE TO MY EXTENSIVE TRAVEL I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE STATE OF NO FORSEEABLE SOLUTION. IF THIS IS NOT CORRECTED BY TOYOTA BEFORE LEMON LAWS EXPIRE WHERE I AM TO TURN? I PURCHASED THIS CAR AT THE SISTER DEALERSHIP IN MAINE BUT RESIDE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. DUE TO MY EXTENSIVE DRIVING REQUIREMENT FOR WORK I ALREADY HAVE APPROX. 11,500 MILES ON IT. I AM VERY CONCERNED THIS WILL HANG WITHOUT A SOLID ANSWER AND I WILL RUN OUT OF TIME ON MILES TO REPORT UNDER LEMON LAW. I WANT THE VEHICLE FIXED BUT AM CONCERNED I WILL BE LEFT HIGH AND DRY BASED ON TIMING.

NHTSA ODI 11280375

Nov 15, 2019Fuel system

BATTERY DOES NOT FULLY CHARGE, WHEN I USE THE EV MODE IT WILL DRAIN THE BATTERY TO HAVING ONLY 3 GREEN LINES AND WONT WANT TO ACCESS THE EV MODE SAYING BATTERY IS TOO LOW. THIS TAKES ABOUT 10 MIN TO DRAIN. WHEN I GO PUT GAS I USUALLY TRY TO FILL UP THE TANK. I LEAVE THE PUMP ON SO IT CAN FILL AUTOMATICALLY. AT ONE TIME IT CLICKED TO WHERE IT INDICATES ITS FULL. WHEN I WENT TO DRIVE OFF I NOTICED THAT THE FUEL INDICATOR WAS LOWER THAN FULL TANK. I THOUGH IT WAS THE GAS PUMP. WENT AGAIN TO FUEL UP AND DID THE SAME THING BUT THIS TIME I HAD TO STAND THERE TO FUEL UP MYSELF THIS TIME IT TOOK MORE GALLONS THEN IT SHOULD HAVE TAKEN. SO THERE IS SOMETHING DEFIANTLY WRONG WITH THE INTAKE TANK OF THIS RAV4

NHTSA ODI 11280425

Nov 13, 2019Fuel system

I CAN ONLY GET ABOUT 10 GALLONS IN THIS 14.5 GALLON TANK. THE GAS PUMPS CLICKS OFF AT 3/4 FULL. I BOUGHT THIS CAR FOR THE ADVERTISED RANGE OF ABOUT 500-550 AND IT IS NO WHERE NEAR THAT. TOYOTA IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AS THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW SOME CARS HAVE THE PROBLEM AND APPARENTLY SOME DO NOT.

NHTSA ODI 11279768

Nov 12, 2019Fuel system

THE 2019 RAV4 HYBRID LIMITED I PURCHASED IN APRIL OF 2019 HAS NEVER ALLOWED ME TO COMPLETELY FILL THE TANK BEYOND 8/10'S FULL BEFORE THE FUEL NOZZLE CLICKS OFF. AS THE FUEL IS USED UP, THE FUEL GAUGE INACCURATELY INDICATES EARLIER THAN NECESSARY THAT THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING OUT OF FUEL. MANY OWNERS HAVE REGISTERED THEIR FRUSTRATIONS ABOUT THIS ISSUE ON CARGURUS.COM AND RAV4WORLD.COM SINCE THE ISSUE FIRST BECAME APPARENT FOLLOWING THE INITIAL SALES OF THE 2019 RAV4 HYBRID. I HAVE NOT FOUND ONE INSTANCE WHERE ANYONE IS NOT HAVING THIS ISSUE WITH THERE 2019 RAV4 HYBRID.

NHTSA ODI 11279575

Nov 12, 2019Electrical system

THIS CAR IS A HYBRID, AND HAS A SO-CALLED "SMART KEY." THE VEHICLE ENGINE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO CONTINUE TO OPERATE WHEN THE KEY IS REMOVED FROM THE CAR, EVEN IF THE TRANSMISSION IS STILL ENGAGED. USUALLY, THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN BECAUSE THE DRIVER SHOULD TURN OFF THE ENGINE BY PUSHING THE ON/OFF BUTTON BEFORE WALKING AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE. BUT IT IS POSSIBLE TO INADVERTENTLY FAIL DO THIS PROPERLY, BY EITHER NOT PUSHING THE OFF BUTTON, NOT PUSHING IT HARD ENOUGH, OR FAILING TO FULLY PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK BEFORE PUSHING THE ON/OFF BUTTON. BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS A HYBRID, IT IS USUALLY COMPLETELY SILENT EVEN IF THE ENGINE SYSTEM IS STILL ON. THE VEHICLE WILL EMIT 3 SHORT, RELATIVELY QUIET, BEEPS WHEN LEAVING THE VEHICLE WHILE THE ENGINE IS STILL TURNED ON, BUT THE VARIOUS SYSTEMS IN THE CAR OFTEN EMITS THE SAME BEEPS, SO THEY ARE EASY TO INADVERTENTLY DISREGARD. IF THE CAR IS LEFT IN A HOME GARAGE, IT CAN FILL THE HOME WITH LETHAL CARBON MONOXIDE. IF THE TRANSMISSION IS ENGAGED, THE UNOCCUPIED VEHICLE CAN MOVE. THERE ARE MULTIPLE WELL REPORTED FATALITIES FROM THESE DEFECTS. VIRTUALLY ALL OTHER MANUFACTURERS OF VEHICLES WITH SMART KEYS CORRECTED THIS DEFECT YEARS AGO, BY AUTOMATICALLY TURNING OFF THE ENGINE IF THE SMART KEY IS REMOVED. TOYOTA IS CORRECTING THIS ISSUE IN 2020 MODELS. BUT TOYOTA IS NOT, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, CORRECTING IT IN 2019 AND EARLIER CARS. IT WOULD PROBABLY BE A RELATIVELY STRAIGHTFORWARD FIX, WHICH COULD BE IMPLEMENTED THROUGH A FIRMWARE UPDATE. BECAUSE THIS IS A SERIOUS, POTENTIALLY LETHAL DEFECT, I BELIEVE TOYOTA SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO RECALL EXISTING 2019 AND EARLIER CARS AND CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THOUGH I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM IS SERIOUS, I HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE PROBLEM

NHTSA ODI 11279609

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Working with the data? Download all 869 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 21, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2019 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid verdict →